What is the approximate power consumed by a 15 kW heat strip rated 230 volts when connected to a 208-volt circuit?

To determine the approximate power consumed by a 15 kW heat strip rated at 230 volts when connected to a 208-volt circuit, it's essential first to understand how power consumption changes with voltage.

Electrical power is calculated using the formula: Power (P) = Voltage (V) × Current (I). When the voltage applied to a heating element is lower than its rated voltage, the current will also drop proportionally if the resistance remains constant. This reduction in voltage leads to a corresponding decrease in power output.

In this scenario, when the 15 kW heat strip, which is designed to function at 230 volts, is connected to a 208-volt circuit, we can estimate the amount of power it will consume. The ratio of the voltages can illustrate this:

• Original rated voltage: 230 volts
• New operating voltage: 208 volts

To calculate the power at 208 volts, we can set up a proportion based on the ratio of the voltages.

Power consumed at 208 volts can be estimated as follows:

Power at 208 volts = Rated power × (208 volts / 230 volts)

Calculating this:

Power at 208 volts = 15 kW × (